general-purpose

adjective

gen·​er·​al-pur·​pose ˈjen-rəl-ˈpər-pəs How to pronounce general-purpose (audio)
ˈje-nə-
: suitable to be used for two or more basic purposes

Examples of general-purpose in a Sentence

a general-purpose glue for routine household repairs
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Running from Westinghouse Boulevard to the I-277/Brookshire Freeway, the I-77 south project will transform the highway into three free general-purpose lanes and two variable toll lanes. Charlotte Observer, 24 Oct. 2025 First, because general-purpose computing made screens so widespread that many worthwhile activities take place on them. Ian Bogost, The Atlantic, 23 Oct. 2025 And while users won’t be able to chat directly with general-purpose chatbots via WhatsApp Business, companies will still be able to use data gathered via the messaging app for AI training. PC Magazine, 19 Oct. 2025 Instead, these tools were trained on huge amounts of text and media drawn largely from across the internet and then launched as general-purpose chatbots. Robert Maloy, The Conversation, 17 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for general-purpose

Word History

First Known Use

1894, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of general-purpose was in 1894

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“General-purpose.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/general-purpose. Accessed 30 Oct. 2025.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!